OUT OF AFRICA

To the outsider, Africa is a complex dichotomy, a region where the joyful expressions
of tradition and culture take place amid the reality of dire poverty and
chronic malnutrition. Home to over one billion people and thus resistant to
easy generalisations, Africa is often referred
to as the birthplace of humanity, but viewed as a neglected suburb of the
modern world. The African contribution to global progress has historically been
restricted by exploitation and hampered by the corrosive effects of political
corruption and civil war, but despite these endemic structural problems, Africans
continue to strive to make their mark on the world.

Throughout the continent,
sport creates high profile national figures, many of whom have earned worldwide
distinction. Their footprint is strongest in distance running where Ethiopians
and Kenyans dominate, but more recently the footballing world has been alerted
to the outstanding qualities of an increasing number of players from this emerging
football territory and some have made it to the very pinnacle of the game.

The nascent European
obsession with African footballers can be partially explained through the
cultural influences and physiological attributes they bring to the game. In his
excellent book Feet of the Chameleon; A
History of African football, Ian Hawkeynotes the prevailing stereotype is for the muscular defensive midfielder
but argues there is also a high degree of skill forged on arid pitches.
Consider the outrageous ability of Okacha and the power of Essien for examples
of both.

Hawkey also hints at a strong
desire to succeed and achieve, evidenced by the 2000 professional African
footballers employed in Europe. Unfortunately
this desire has been led to a lucrative market in human
trafficking as dodgy football academies charge families costs they can barely
afford with the promise of a European career. Hawkey notes that the brutal
reality can be busloads of young men being taken to live in squalid conditions
in neighbouring countries, playing no football at all.

Thankfully, success is more
common. The lower tiers of the European game have seen a huge increase in
exports over the last twenty years while a swift glance at any Champions League
teamsheet will provide numerous examples of African talent.

Celtic’s group stage victory
over Barcelona,
which coincided with the 125th anniversary of the club’s formation,
was due in part to the performances of two young African men, Victor Wanyama
and Efe Ambrose, who defended with composure and determination to frustrate the
Catalans. Wanyama even found time to power home a first half header. Their
attention grabbing performances on a historic evening provoked some thoughts on
the club’s relationship with the African continent and the historical ties and
charitable endeavours run deeper than first imagined.

Indirectly, Celtic have acquired
the service of a small but growing number of African players in the last few
decades, currently evidenced by the presence of Ambrose and Wanyama. It’s not
unreasonable to suggest that there will be a residual effect from Celtics
employment of African talent as the club’s exposure in the continent continues
to grow. Neither is it inconceivable to suppose that in the years to come, a
Celtic player will make the shortlist for African player of the year. Ambrose
performed admirably in Nigeria’s victory in the Cup of Nations this year but
the most likely candidate, assuming Celtic retain him, is Wanyama, who has made
a seamless transition from Kenya to Kerrydale St,
greatly enhancing his profile and reputation in the process

These players have joined a
small tribe of African players who have worn the hoops, most of whom hailed
from the West African strongholds of Senegal,
Ivory Coast,
Nigeria
and Cameroon.
Several came in on loan, including
Badr El Kaddouri, Diomansy Kamara, Henri Camara and Landry N’Guemo; others
permanently; Oliver Tebilly, Mo Camara, Mo Bangura, Momo Sylla,
Jean Joel Perrier Doumbe and of course, Bobo Balde, who until the emergence of
Wanyama, had made the greatest impact at Celtic of any African player.

Islam Feruz, to Celtic’s
great misfortune, is the one that got away.

Now a UK citizen and Scotland youth international, but born and raised in war torn Somalia
before he settled with his family in Glasgow aged six, Islam was the
precociously talented striker who Celtic coached, nurtured and educated as a
kid. Tommy Burns spoke on behalf of Islam and his family at a deportation
hearing helping to secure their legal status, citing the contribution he would
go on to make to this country. Feruz moved to London to sign professional forms with Chelsea as a sixteen year
old, denying Celtic fans the chance to witness him fulfil his potential in
green and white. Those inside the game are unanimous when discussing the
outlook for this striking prodigy: Islam Feruz will be a superstar. Far from
harbouring any bitterness, Celtic should be proud of their role, not only in
his sporting development, but in his
life as a whole.

The second component in this emerging
Celtic – Africa story, is the development and
charitable work undertaken by the club. The Celtic Charity Fund estimates that
the club have donated over £600,000 to various causes in Africa, in aid of work
all over the continent. The club have formed an official partnership with
Kibera Celtic, who were founded on the principles of openness, social inclusion
and assistance for the poor in one of the largest and worst slums in Kenya. The
Kibera Celtic Foundation deliver programmes linking sport with community
projects designed to improve health and education. For the last three years, volunteers
from the Celtic Charity Fund have travelled to Kibera to work in local schools
and orphanages.

The Legends match between
Celtic and Manchester United in 2011, attended by 55,000 fans in aid of Oxfams
East Africa Food Crisis Appeal, was memorable for many things, most notably a
remarkable gesture by ex Celtic player John Kennedy. His decision to donate his
share of the gate receipts from a match that was originally scheduled to be his
testimonial, summed up the spirit of the event
which raised a huge sum for those affected by famine in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.

In the boardroom and the stands,
representatives of Celtic, a modern club with a global fanbase, appear to
understand that their social responsibilities extend far beyond the parameters
of Scottish society, and staff and
fans work diligently in the background to ensure those responsibilities are
met. The 125th anniversary celebrations focused minds on the true
roots of a club that was formed to assist the poor, reminding us that the glory
of Celtic is not measured exclusively on trophies won, but also in adherence to
the original ideals of its founders.. The clubs involvement in Africa, particularly
in Wanyama’s homeland of Kenya, is a noble venture in keeping with that ethos.

If Celtic continue to attract
established African internationals while expanding social justice projects in areas
of need, the Celtic-Africa story will continue to be mutually beneficial in a
continent where football has proven to be a unifying force for the betterment
of many. For most of Celtic’s history
there has been a strong fan base in Ireland and North America but perhaps in
125 years time there will be Celtic Supporters
Associations the length and breadth of Africa, from Nairobi to Dakar, as Celtic
become a well known club in a more stable, confident region of the world.